Neurology - Paediatric

The Paediatric Neurology team at Narayana Health is composed of highly skilled and experienced neurologists who provide compassionate, comprehensive neurology treatment for children and adolescents with diseases of the nervous system. The team's scope is vast and covers both simple nervous issues and more complex neurological disorders such as those stemming from birth defects and genetic disorders.

With allied medical specialists on hand and modern medical infrastructure, Narayana Health provides its patients with best possible treatment for neurological disorders.

Some of the common paediatric neurological diseases treated by NH include-

Diagnosis: What to expect?

Paediatric neurologists make a diagnosis by asking about your child’s symptoms and medical history. Generally, the following tests may be ordered:

- EEG Or Electroencephalogram: The EEG test is used to identify problems related to the electrical activity in the brain. It can also help detect seizures and make sure that the electrical activity in your child’s brain is normal according to their age.

- MRI or CT scan: Theses are imaging tests that take pictures of the brain and spine. With MRI and CT scans, it is easier to look for signs of brain tumour, multiple sclerosis, stroke, infection, certain genetic conditions, and more.

- Lumbar puncture or spinal tap: In this test, the doctor inserts a small needle in the lower back to take a sample of the spinal fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. This process helps to identify signs of infection or inflammation.

- Blood tests: Your doctor may order blood tests for your child to check for electrolyte changes or signs of infection. More complicated testing procedures such as genetic tests may also be done for specific disorders.

Other techniques that can be used for the diagnosis of underlying neurologic conditions are:

- Chromosome studies

- Hearing assessments

- Developmental tests

- Electromyography

- Genetic testing

- Vision assessments

- Xrays

- Genetic counselling

After the diagnosis of your child, you may require the following:

- Basic information about your child’s condition

- Information about the potential symptoms

- Knowledge on the management of symptoms

- Safety information

- Details regarding the available treatment options and associated risks

- Details on the expected course of the condition

- Information to understand and come to terms with the diagnosis

- Peer support

Neurology - Paediatric FAQ's

Paediatric neurologists diagnose and treat children with diseases and conditions that affect the nervous system. They also deal with patients who have head injuries, seizures, or muscle weakness. After a consultation, your neurologist will develop a treatment plan to manage and care for children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), speech delays, coordination issues, fine and gross motor delays, etc. They can also treat children who have learning disabilities.

During your first visit, a paediatric neurologist will examine your child and ask you questions regarding their behaviour. Then they will request you to let your child participate in specific physical and neurological examinations to rule out or diagnose the conditions further. The neurological exams are done to measure muscle strength, reflexes, sensation, and coordination. As the nervous system is very complex, further tests might also be suggested.

The occurrence of seizures in children is not uncommon. It is caused whenever there’s an abnormally excessive neuronal activity in the brain. Most of the seizures are either provoked by fever or are only a one-time event, such as from a fall and are not necessarily a cause of concern. However, when the seizures in a child are recurrent and without any identifiable precipitating factors, consulting a paediatric neurologist is of utmost importance.

It is difficult to diagnose the autism and other autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) as the symptoms and degree of impairment are different for every child. The symptoms can range from being severe to mild, but the major ones are social withdrawal, rigid and repetitive behaviour, and verbal or nonverbal communication problems. In severe cases, the child may not be able to learn to speak or make eye contact. However, many autistic children live normal lives.

Asperger’s Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder affects a child’s ability to develop language skills more or less on time. Although a delay in speech development can be seen in children with AS, most of them learn to communicate by age three. Some of the common symptoms include impaired verbal and nonverbal communication, strict adherence to non-functional routines, stereotyped repetitive motor mannerisms, lack of social and emotional reciprocity, etc.